Meanwhile the condition of the Indians throughout _Brazil_ had gradually improved. For this they were indebted chiefly to the importation of negroes, but partly also to legislation. Throughout all the old captaincies, with the exception of _St. Paulo_, a pure Indian--that is to say one without negro blood--was declared free on demanding his freedom. This consummation must have gladdened the closing days of Vieyra’s life. His memorable existence was prolonged to the age of ninety; he having been for seventy-five years a member of the Order of Jesus. His brother Gonçalo survived him by one day. CHAPTER VII. _BRAZIL; THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY._ 1600-1700. At the close of the seventeenth century the Portuguese race had established themselves along the whole extent of the coasts of the vast region which now forms the Brazilian Empire,--from _Pará_ in the north to _Rio Grande Do Sul_ at the other extremity. Of the interior of these immense provinces, extensive spaces--equal, indeed, to the size of European kingdoms--were then, and are still, uninhabited. The clouds driven westward by the periodical winds which prevail at certain seasons on the Southern Atlantic, meeting the huge and unbroken barrier of the _Andes_, are forced to discharge their contents in continuous deluges over the entire area of Central _Brazil_, thus giving birth to the most voluminous water-systems which the world contains. But this is not the only result of the almost incessant downfall of waters which is witnessed on the eastern slopes of the _Andes_. Another result is that the superabundant moisture, falling upon a soil under the influence of a burning sun, produces an extent and luxuriance of tropical vegetation such as is nowhere else to be seen on the surface of the earth. This vegetation has hitherto, throughout all ages, baffled the efforts of man to contend with it; and ages will elapse ere the increase of the world’s population will force mankind to bend themselves to the huge effort of subduing this teeming virgin forest.